Wood finishing



March 10, 1942. w. w. PARTEE WOOD FINI SHING Filed 0st. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Inll'u HHH Patented Mar. l0, 1942 U NITE il Sile? ES PAT 'iii T 0 F F l C 700D FINISHING Watkins tJebber Partec, Memphis, Tenn., assignor to E, L, Bruce Company, Memphis, Tenn., a

corporation of Delaware 6 Claims.

My invention relates to the manufacture of factory finished wood floor blocks of the type such as is shown in the patent to Robert, G. Bruce, No. 1,808,592, granted June 2, 1931.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a wood-floor block or the like that has a finish that deeply penetrates the wood, as differentiated from wood iinishes that merely lie on the surface of the wood, and that is tough and elastic, not readily scratched, of good lustre, and more durable than prior finishes.

Another object of the invention is to have the finishing operation as mechanical as possible, reducing the necessity of hand labor ln producing the nished blocks.

A further object is to provide such a sequence of operations so lthat the finish on the block will be attractive in appearance and durable in use.

Otherfobjects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings for-a more complete disclosure of the invention,

Figure 1 is `a plan view 'of the 4machine for applylng the floor finishing composition.

i `Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine for applying the customary door ller to the blocks.

"Figure 3 is aplan View of the machine for polishing or waxing the surface o! the blocks after vthe oor nishing composition and filler have been ap liedthereto and rubbed in.

Figure t` is4 a', transverse elevation showing the arrangement 'of' the block as it travels on the tracks.

`Referring particularly to Figure 1.*the entire lengthof the nish application line is about two hundred feet.' The blocks l, made up oi'h'a plurality of slats as shown in Patent #1,808,623,` are piled up inthe' 7Hopper 2, which has reciprocating rockersigna-"sv forfp'ushihg the bottega tincky `in the` hopper onto the'v linl'belt Ik, provided with spced studs 5." Theblocks are `p'lac'ejl into the hopper *by the operator. so that the component sans tourbe' sartene; tothe une oftraveiiaf' se the link be.t that Keeps the entire line or moons traveling from one end of the line to the other. A friction clutch is provided, so that il' the line jams, the link belt stops.

As the blocks move forward at a uniform rate, they pass below a cylindrical container, 22, which provides a slow stream of a floor finishing composition that falls on to the face of the block at4 predetermined uniform rate oi' flow. thereby sunplying the same quantity to each block. A satisfactory composition for this purpose is such as is disclosed in the patent to Frank H. Lyons, No. 2,066,296, dated December 29, 1938, except for the paraffin wax element which it has been found should be practically eliminated. and which has the'properties` of rapidly penetrating the wood when itis applied.

After the door nish composition has been applied, the blocks pass under o. spreader 23, that is `provided with canton annel which distributes the oor finish evenly over the face of the block. The blocks now move forward to a reciprocating wiper 24, the distance between the spreader 23. and the wiper 24 being approximately one hun dred and sixtydive feet of free travel, which permits about eight minutes time for the floor finish to penetrate or soak deeply into the wood. The wiper is absorbent and soft, and removes and absorbs the excess finish from the wet spots and transfers them to the dry spots. The wiper 2l is provided with a flannel surface, and moves transversely of the line of block travel and removes the circular marking left by the spreader 23. From the end of the track, the blocks are stacked,` and after about one hour, are trans ferred to the ller line.

v'At the tirnetheblocks are started through the iler Aapplication line the finish has not dried. It hasmere'lyhad an initial setting. This fact is important; because by applying the ller before the finish has dried'and while it has merely set initially?, Irsecure a blending and combination of finish and'ller-inthesurface and subsurface of thefwooti these' two elements combining homopieneirnlsly'i$` Thisv is of particular importance wlierecolrf'isf'ftfsedfin both the finish and the fille Wil-5h `itfleblending and Combining of finilsfiiriins in the later operations as herematter-describe@ Ji-eferri now to the filler application line, as showitliiimgure 2, the beginning of the line will ptvitfdtwith the same type of hopper. feed mebliaiifif-and studded link belt identical to thatoiperation #1, such assemblage being diagrammatlcally indicated at Il. This line is about two hundred feet long and the blocks travel at the same rate as In the finish application line.

As the blocks move forward, they enter the covered hood Il, which is fully open on the side I so that the operator can apply the filler composition by a compressed air spray outfit to the i'ace of the blocks. This is the usual silex wood filler thinned out with naphtha. By spraying the filler on the face of the block, a uniform coat of filler is produced. Since a small amount of an oil soluble dye. ls added to both the finish composition and the filler when it is desired to color the blocks, applying the filler by any contact method results in streaking. Spraying does not disturb the already applied finish, as would be the case if the filler was rubbed on.

The surface of the blocks having been sprayed with the ller composition, will advance to the revolving brushes Ill, forcing the filler thoroughly into the pores and other small openings in the face of the wood blocks. In the normal operation of the filler line, it will take about 21/2 minutes after the block leaves the hood 8, until it arrives up to the revolving brushes I0, and this will be suilicient time to permit partial evaporation of the volatile vehicle in the ller, producing a dulling of the surface.

The four revolving brushes I rotate on a vertical axis and are driven by the vertically mounted motors I2 through belts I3. The face of the brushes is provided with bristles, which force the filler thoroughly into the pores and other small opening in the face of the blocks. The brushes may be provided with an arm I4, and a weight I5 on the end thereof for giving the necessary pressure downward of the brush, while it is operating on the surface of the wood. The brushes can be swung up on the pivots I2a to change the brushes as required.

The blocks now proceed to the next series of bristle brushes I6, which are driven by similar motors I2 and belts I3, and will be spaced, as indicated in the drawings.

`'llliese brushes serve to remove any surplus filler that may be adhering to the blocks. 'Ihe distance of travel of the blocks between revolving brushes III and brushes I6 provide a few minutes lapse of time to 4permit some further drying of the filler. The excess filler is more readily removed in such dryer form.`

The line of blocks now proceeds to a cylindrical machine II, set at anangle of about 30 degrees with the track, and provided with bristle brushes to remove the circular markings left by the preceding operation and also to remove any excess ller from the upper edges of the block. This machine II rotates on a horizontal axis and is driven by a motor I8. The machine II revolves against the line of travel of the blocks.

As the blocks pass from theend of the filler line, they slide onto a table and they are transferred from there to portable drying racks for twelve hours drying in front of a blower fan which finally dries and sets the finish and the ller.

Referring now to operation y#3, as disciosed in Figure 3, the finishing composition and filler having sufiiciently dried in and on the blocks, they are now to be subjected to a waxing and polishing operation. The blocks are started in on the line by the use of a hopper feed mechanism and a studded link belt identical to those of operations #l andl #2, the same being diagrammatically illustrated and indicated by reference numeral l5. This line of operation is about two hundred feet long and the blocks travel at the same rate as in operation Nos. 1 and 2. The blocks are subjected first to machines 26 that are provided with steel wool surfaces to clean and prepare the surface 4for the final application of the polishing composition and Yalso to finely smooth the surface.

These machines have a reciprocating motion lengthwise of the line of operation. Steel wool operates somewhat as very fine sandpaper, the previous operation of this type being similar to coarse or medium work, this final operation being fine in character. Just after-leaving the reciprocating buffers 28, a polishing composition is applied by the operator with soft cheese cloth, applying the composition so that an even coat is applied to the face of the block. yAfter the polishing composition has been applied to the block by hand. the blocks move forward to the spreader 2l, taking a period of time of about three minutes for this movement. The blocks then pass under the buffer 21, rotating on a vertical axis and driven by the vertically mounted motor 28 through the belt 29. The face of these buffers is provided with fiber bristle and this operation serves to distribute the polishing composition evenly over the surface of the block, and burnish and polish the surface. All the buffers in this line operate at quite a high rate of speed and the frictional contact produces heat which is necessary in drying and polishing. Between this operation and the next operation, a period of about five minutes occurs during which time the solvents in the polish dry out to an extent and provide a more solid base for the next `polishing operation. The blocks then pass under the buffers 32, rotating on a vertical axis as heretofore described, the first two of this series of buffers being provided with fiber bristle and the third one, 33 being provided with a carpet pad for polishing the surface. These three brushes are all provided with weighted arms as in the other buffers and this battery of three buffers serve to give a high lustre to the block surface. After leaving this series of buffers, the blocks then pass under the carpet pad buffer u, rotating on a horizontal axis and driven by the motor 86 and revolving against the line of travel ol' the blocks. This buffer removes circular markings left by the buffers 32 and 33.

The blocks then pass off of the end of the track. which is the end of the process, and are packed into cartons for storage or shipment as they leave the track.

Since the wood blocks, as disclosed in the aforesaid Robert G. Bruce patent, are provided with tongues on two adjacent sides and grooves on two adjacent sides, there is a tongue 30 on one side and a groove 31 on the other. Accord ingly the tracks 38 and I0 will be provided with a tongue 39 and groove 4I cooperating respectively with the groove 31 and tongue 36 on the block. The tracks 3l and 40 which are of the same construction and arrangement in all three of the operating lines will be supported on the frame work l2.

In feeding the blocks through any of the units of the machine, there is an advantage in feeling them lengthwise of the slats, as there is no compression of the wood that would otherwise cause the blocks to buckle. There is also an advantage in the bevel edge 50 on the blocks as compared with non beveled edge. When the face edges of the blocks are not beveled the upper surfaces do not match evenly, producing proatrasos jecting edges. in which surplus illler or finish will catch and is not readily removed by the wipers or brushes.

It will be noted that the feeding instrumentalites are applied to the lower side of the block supported by tracks on their edges, but they are not applied to the face of the block which would cause the finished face to become damaged.

It is important that the finish be applied before the filler. Both may have coloring matter therein, such as an oil soluble aniline dye and it is desirable to get the color in as deep as pomible. If the filler is applied first, a proper penetration of the finish is not secured. When using color. the same shade of color is in the filler as is in the finish.

The machine for operating on the wood block is comparable to a continuous strip of floor. movable relative to the stationary instrumentalities operating on the floor .as distinguished from moving instrumentalities operatingon a stationary floor.

The character of the feed is such that the wood strips and blocks are rigidly held while being fed through the machine and operated on. Just prior to applying the finishing composition, the block to be finished is put through a sander. The sander used is a three drum oscillating type which gives to the face of the block, a sanding, first with coarse sand paper, then medium and finally, fine sandpaper. No time is lost after sanding, in putting the blocks through the floor finish application line, because if there was delay even for a short period of time, the grain of the wood might raise, producing an uneven surface. The immediate application of the finish prevents grain raising. The final completely iinished surface will be no smoother than the initial sanded surface.

In order that the finished surface shall be uniform it is important that the finishing operations be carried out under uniform conditions of air temperature, humidity and circulation. The inability to control these conditions when finishing floors in the field is responsible for most of the variation in the results obtained.

The temperatures of the air affects the solid and solvent content of all the materials used in the finishing operations. It affects the penetration of the floor finish, its viscosity. time of setting, drying and the like. Accordingly, the temperature of the work room is maintained preferably at 'I0-'75 degrees F. and the materials employed are adjusted to that temperature in order to secure the best results. By varying the amount and character of solvents and amount and character of solids, other room temperatures might be employed.

Since the amount of moisture in the air, affects the drying and setting of materials and especiallyY the rate of evaporation of the solvents used. a relative humidity of 3x5-40% is preferred. This corresponds with the best humidity conditions from the standpoint of health.

With the constant evaporation of solvents in tbe work room. it is necessary to provide for the withdrawal of the solvent laden air and the replacement with fresh air, otherwise, the temperature and humidity control would not be completely effective.

I claim:

1. A machine for applying filler to the surface of a line of wood ooring units, means for applying the filler to the surface of the units, a brush of suiiicient weight for giving the necessary pressure for forcing the filler into the surface of the units while it is operating, a brush for removing the surplus filler, means for supporting said brushes, a steel wool buter for removing the ymarkings left by the aforesaid brushes. and

means for feeding an unbroken line of units past said instrumentalities.

2. An apparatus for finishing wood flooring units comprising guideways for supporting and guiding a series of units, means for applying a finishing composition to the face of the units, means for applying a ller composition to the face of the units and means for moving a succession of units in said guideways past the aforesaid means in the order stated.

3. An apparatus for finishing the surface of an unbroken line of wood flooring units, means for continuously moving a succession of units through the apparatus at a uniform rate, means for applying a liquid composition to the surface of the units at a uniform rate of flow, a spreader for distributing the composition on the face of the units, a wiper for removing the excess composition from the surface of the units. the distance between the spreader and wiper being sufiicient to permit most of the composition to penetrate the wood deeply.

4. An apparatus for finishing the surface of a line of wood flooring units, means for continuously moving an unbroken horizontal line of units through the apparatus, means for applying a finishing composition to the upper surface of the units, a rotary spreader for distributing the composition evenly over the face of the units and wiping it into the surface pores. a wiper for removing the markings left by the spreader and the excess composition on the face of the units. means for supporting the spreader and wiper the distance between the spreader and wiper being sumcient to permit most of the composition to deeply penetrate the wood.

5. An apparatus for polishing wood ooring units comprising guideways for supporting and guiding a series of units, means for'continuously moving a succession of units in said guideway through the apparatus, means for cleaning and smoothing the face of the umts, means for distributing a polishing composition over the face of the units and polishing the surface, means for buillng the surface to give it a high lustre, the distance between the distributing and buillng means being suflicient to permit a substantial drying of the polishing composition.

6. An apparatus for finishing wood flooring comprising guideways for supporting and guiding the flooring. means for applying nishing and filler compositions to the face of the flooring, means for applying polishing composition to the face of the flooring and means for successively moving pieces of flooring in said guidewm Past the aforesaid means in the order stated.

WATKINS WEBBER PARTEE. 

